Extreme reaction to girth

[Sparkle1983]

Hi, my sixteen year old Arab x has always been a bit girthy and cold backed...he’s been thoroughly checked and vet found mild bone spavin which he’s been injected for, plus kissing spine, which he had the surgical op for and he’s also previously been treated for ulcers. He came back into work well but about this time last year he started threatening to buckle and go on the floor when I gently did the girth up... I started using the epiony heat pad and this helped... however last week he had a really bad reaction again and I only gently lifted the girth up a hole (it was visibly loose). It seemed like it touched a nerve or something and he buckled to the floor onto his knees then got up, spun around several times with knees buckled before just standing shaking... it’s like he went into a zone and I honestly thought he may crush me against the wall, and he’s normally the sweetest horse. I had vet out and agreed to treat for ulcers again ... he’s also had saddle and teeth checked and physio out... has anyone else heard of this??
Ps. I always saddle up very slowly, process takes about twenty minutes.
Thanks in advance x

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think I would get his spine looked at again that is quite a reaction and if the ulcers have returned it may be because of an underlying pain issue which is often the case unfortunately, I hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[ester]

It’s often a result of the vagus nerve being stimulated. I’d normally say pinched but it seems that isn’t really the right terminology for yours and it’s may be hypersensitive.